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mikayakatnt 's review for:
The Souls of Black Folks
by W.E.B. Du Bois
In The Souls of Black Folk, W. E. B. Du Bois portrays the experience of African Americans in the post-Reconstruction era. Du Bois paints an upsetting picture of the black experience in America at the turn of the century.
Each of the essays in The Soul of Black Folk varies in prose and topics. Du Bois covers the structural issues of racism in the South, his counterthesis to Booker T. Washington’s “Atlanta Compromise,” religion in the African American psyche, among many other things. He gives a story about his first born child and a fictional story between two characters named John. The topic of the “veil” and “color-line” is weaved through each page which highlights the black experience. The idea of a "double consciousness" paints a picture of how it's like being the "other" in America.
The insight and wisdom Du Bois shows in each essay shines on even to today. I found myself reading this book as if it was written this year. I was not expecting such topics as economic and physical imprisonment or lack of political representation. Seeing these persistent problems written about over 100 years ago shows how long we still have to go.
Since this book was written in 1903, the language and writing style can be a bit dense. There are many layers of meaning behind each page. Du Bois ties in mythology, story-telling, and Biblical allusions in each essay. Though exhausting for some readers, I wouldn’t let that take away from the book. Though some ideas in the book feel outdated, Du Bois’ main arguments are still relevant than ever.
Seeing how many of the themes Du Bois covers in this book still resonate even to today is heartbreaking. Yet, it's somewhat inspiring to see how far we've come since the days this book was written. We’ve come a long way but still got a long way to go.
5/5. A must read classic of American literature. Cannot recommend this book enough.
Each of the essays in The Soul of Black Folk varies in prose and topics. Du Bois covers the structural issues of racism in the South, his counterthesis to Booker T. Washington’s “Atlanta Compromise,” religion in the African American psyche, among many other things. He gives a story about his first born child and a fictional story between two characters named John. The topic of the “veil” and “color-line” is weaved through each page which highlights the black experience. The idea of a "double consciousness" paints a picture of how it's like being the "other" in America.
The insight and wisdom Du Bois shows in each essay shines on even to today. I found myself reading this book as if it was written this year. I was not expecting such topics as economic and physical imprisonment or lack of political representation. Seeing these persistent problems written about over 100 years ago shows how long we still have to go.
Since this book was written in 1903, the language and writing style can be a bit dense. There are many layers of meaning behind each page. Du Bois ties in mythology, story-telling, and Biblical allusions in each essay. Though exhausting for some readers, I wouldn’t let that take away from the book. Though some ideas in the book feel outdated, Du Bois’ main arguments are still relevant than ever.
Seeing how many of the themes Du Bois covers in this book still resonate even to today is heartbreaking. Yet, it's somewhat inspiring to see how far we've come since the days this book was written. We’ve come a long way but still got a long way to go.
5/5. A must read classic of American literature. Cannot recommend this book enough.